Delta men found guilty of pest control fraud

CLEVELAND — The Bolivar County Circuit Court has found Cleveland residents Albert Matthews, 58, and George Matthews, 38, guilty of felony false pretenses for pest control fraud, according to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

The Bolivar County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against the men following an investigation by the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Police Department and MDAC’s Bureau of Plant Industry and Agricultural Theft Bureau.

The men were arrested earlier this year for conducting pest control services without a license in Bolivar, Leflore and Washington counties. After further investigation, no evidence of termites was detected in any of the trees that were treated.

Both men were sentenced to six years in prison, four years of post-release supervision, and each ordered to pay $1,985 in restitution.  They also face one count of false pretenses in Leflore County, and Albert Matthews faces three additional counts of false pretenses in Washington County.

Source: Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce

3 Responses to “Delta men found guilty of pest control fraud”

1. Sam Reid Says:
   June 21st, 2011 at 8:07 am

   6 yrs. for ‘Pest Control Fraud?’ The lawyers for these guys should spend time with them for sheer incompetence.

   “After further investigation, no evidence of termites was detected in any of the trees that were treated.”

   Hey! Seems to me they did a pretty good job.

   This appears to be a case of ‘judges gone wild.’

   Sam Reid
   Murfreesboro, TN

2. Your Brother Says:
   June 22nd, 2011 at 6:02 pm

   I bet Sam has a dog in this hunt…

3. Delta men found guilty of pest control fraud - Murfreesboro News Up to the Minute - Your Murfreesboro Daily Says:
   June 28th, 2011 at 8:01 am

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